Multiple switch socket adapter

ABSTRACT

AN ADAPTER FOR USE WITH A MULTIPLE SWITCH SOCKET INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SOCKETS EACH HAVING A SIDE CONTACT AND BOTTOM CONTACT, A MALE MEMBER HAVING THREE CONTACTS ADAPTED TO CONNECT WITH THE CONTACTS OF THE MULTIPLE SWITCH SOCKET AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS FOR CONNECTING THE THREE CONTACTS WITH THE SIDE AND BOTTOM CONTACTS OF THE SOCKETS WHEREBY LIGHT BULBS INSERTED IN THE PLURALITY OF SOCKETS MAY BE SELECTIVELY ENERGIZED TO PROVIDE VARYING LEVELS OF ILLUMINATION.

r "1 c. R. cook 3,566,339

MULTIPLE SWITCH SOCKET ADAPTER Filed Jan. 2, i969 AbAPTElZ L @ma' I I Arm/mars United States Patent Olfice 3,566,339 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adapter for use with a multiple switch socket including a plurality of sockets each having a side contact and bottom contact, a male member having three contacts adapted to connect with the contacts of the multiple switch socket and electrical connections for connecting the three contacts with the side and bottom contacts of the sockets whereby light bulbs inserted in the plurality of sockets may be selectively energized to provide varying levels of illumination.

2 Claims BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to electrical socket adapters and more particularly to adapters for permitting the use of single filament light bulbs with a multiple switch socket.

Many manufacturers of lighting fixtures provide threeway switch sockets in order to permit varying illumination levels. These sockets are designed to receive multi-filament light bulbs; that is, light bulbs having a plurality of filaments therein connected either in series or in parallel. The wattage of each of the filaments may be equal or may vary dependent upon the desired illumination levels.

In order to selectively energize the filaments of multifilament light bulbs, the male end of the bulb is normally provided with three contacts. The screw thread surrounding the male end normally constitutes the first contact, and the second contact is normally in the form of a disc disposed at the bottom of the male end and insulated from the third contact which is normally disposed in the center of the bottom of the male end. Accordingly, threeway switch sockets are provided with three contacts to receive the contacts of the multi-filament light bulbs. Normally the internally threaded cylindrical wall of the socket constitutes a contact for connection with the first contact of the multi-filament light bulb. An olf center rigid prong extending from the base of the socket connects with the second contact, and a resilient prong dis posed at the center of the base of the socket connects with the third contact of the multi-filament light bulb.

Conventional single filament light bulbs have only two contacts which correspond to the first and third contacts of multi-filament light bulbs; that is, single filament light bulbs do not have a disc contact. Consequently, while single filament light bulbs may be received by multiple switch sockets, they operate at only one level of illumination.

One prior art adapter has been suggested that permits the use of one single filament light bulb with a three-way switch socket to provide two illumination levels; however, this adapter is limited by the Wattage of the one light bulb since the level of illumination is changed by reducing the power applied to the light bulb.

Thus, prior to the present invention the only manner in which to fully take advantage of multiple switch sockets to produce varying levels of illumination was to utilize multi-filament light bulbs. Multi-filament light bulbs, however, while being ellective to produce varying levels of illumination when all of the filaments are in operation, are disadvantageous in that once a single filament in the light bulb burns out the varying levels of illumination can no longer be obtained. The user, therefore, must either satisfy himself with limited levels of illumination or must sacrifice the remaining good filaments in the bulb by purchasing a new multi-filament bulb to replace the old one. This problem is compounded by the fact that most users of three-way lamps keep the light at its highest level thereby decreasing the life of the light bulb. Due to the expense of these bulbs, it is undesirable to replace them frequently and yet to operate the lamps with limited illumination levels is also undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to construct an adapter for use with multiple switch sockets in order to permit the use of single filament light bulbs to obtain varying levels of illumination.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize a plurality of single filament light bulbs to replace a multifilament light bulb to provide varying illumination levels by connecting the single filament light bulbs with a combination multiple switch socket through an adapter having sockets for receiving the single filament light bulbs.

The present invention has another object in that an adapter has a plurality of sockets integrally formed therein to permit the use of a plurality of single filament light bulbs with a multiple switch socket to provide varying levels of illumination.

A further object of the present invention is to utilize a plurality of single filament light bulbs to provide varying levels of illumination.

One advantage of the present invention is that by utilizing a plurality of single filament light bulbs rather than one multi-filament light bulb when one light bulb burns out it may be replaced without wasting the other light bulbs. Another advantage of the adapter of the present invention is that single filament light bulbs of varying wattage may be utilized to provide any level of illumination desired.

The present invention is generally characterized in an adapter for use with a multiple switch socket comprising first and second sockets each having a side contact and a. bottom contact, a male member having first, second and third contacts, and electrical connecting means for connecting the first contact of the male member with the side contacts of the first and second sockets, the second contact of the male member with the bottom contact of the first socket, and the third contact of the male member with the bottom contact of the second socket whereby light bulbs inserted in the first and second sockets may be selectively energized to provide varying levels of illumination.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational, sectional view of a conventional three-way switch socket.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the adapter of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational, sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 2. taken along lines 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the adapter of FIGS. 2 and 3 utilized with with the switch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational, sectional view of a second embodiment of an adapter according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the adapter of FIG. 5 utilized with the switch of FIG. 1..

.A conventional three-way switch socket for use with multi-filament light bulbs is shown in FIG. 1 and includes an internally threaded cylindrical wall 12 formed of electrically conductive material and a circular base 14 of insulative material joined with the bottom of wall 12. A multi-position switch 16 is disposed below base 14 and includes a rotor 18 formed of insulative material and having four arcuate sides symmetrically disposed therearound. Three of the sides are covered by an electrical conductor 20, and the fourth side 22 of the rotor is bare exposing the insulative material. On one side of rotor 18 is disposed a U-shaped strip of copper 24 that is secured at one end to a conductive member 26 and is slightly arouate at its other end to provide good contact with rotor 18. A strip of copper 28 having an inverted U-shape is disposed on the other side of rotor 18 and is secured at one end to a conductive member 30 and is slightly arcuate at its other end to provide good contact with rotor 18. Member 30 is oifset at its upper end and extends through an aperture in base 14 to form an intermediate contact 32. A copper strip 34 forms an inner contact 36 and extends through the center of base 14 to contact rotor 18 at a slightly arcuate end.

A pair of wires 38 and are adapted to be connected with a suitable source of electrical energy, such as an 115 volt 60 Hz. A.C. source. Wire 40 is electrically connected with a flanged portion of the bottom of cylindrical wall '12 which wall forms an outer contact, and wire 40 is connected with member 26 of switch 16.

Conventional multi-filament light bulbs are formed with a base member having a center contact disposed in the center of the bottom of the base member, a ring contact in the form of a disc disposed concentrically with the center contact and insulated therefrom and an outside contact which normally constitutes the threaded cylindrical wall of the base member. Thus, when a conventional multi-filament light bulb is screwed into the socket of FIG. 1 the center contact makes electrical contact with inner contact 36, the ring contact makes contact with intermediate contact 32 and the outside contact makes contact with outer contact 12.

A first embodiment of an adapter according to the present invention is shown in perspective in FIG. 2 and includes a casing 42 joined with a male member 44 and three sockets 46, 48 and 50. The adapter is constructed as a unitary device and is adapted to be screwed into the socket of FIG. 1. Sockets 46, 48 and 50 are adapted to receive single filament light bulbs and will be described with respect to FIG. 3 which is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3.

Male member 44 is formed of a cylindrical base 52 of the insulative casing material and is enclosed by a threaded cylindrical wall 54 constructed of electrically conductive material. Base 52 has an aperture through the center thereof to accommodate a rigid conductor 56 and an off center aperture to accommodate a rigid conductor 58. Conductor 56 is connected with an arcuate contact 60 at the bottom of male member 44, and a circular insulator 62 having a sleeve portion surrounding conductor 56 is disposed between contact 60 and is circular or disc contact 64 that is concentric with contact 60 and makes direct electrical connection with conductor 58.

Sockets 46 and 50 are symmetrically disposed about an axis extending through the center of male member 44 and socket 48, and sockets 46, 48 and 50 are similar in construction. Each of sockets 46, 48 and 50 includes an internally threaded cylindrical wall 66 and a circular base 68 of insulating material having a bottom. contact 69 disposed in the center thereof and extending therethrough.

A rigid conductor 70 is secured to cylindrical wall 54 of male member 44 at one end and has a flanged offset end electrically connected with a flanged portion of the bottom of cylindrical wall 66 of socket 46. Similarly, the cylindrical walls 66 of sockets 48 and 50 are electrically connected with cylindrical wall '54 of base member 44 by a rigid conductor 72. Thus rigid conductors 70 and 72 serve to connect all of the cylindrical walls 66 or side contacts of the sockets with cylindrical wall 54 of male member 44 and also to add support to casing 42. Conductor 56 has an offset end extending above base 52 and is connected to a pair of wires 74 and 76 which are connected to contacts 69 of sockets 46 and 50, respectively, and conductor 58 has an offset end extending above base 52 and is connected with a wire 78 which is connected with contact 69 of socket 48.

The male member of the adapter of FIGS. 2 and 3 may be screwed into socket 10 such that electrical contact is made between walls 12 and 54, intermediate contact 32 and ring contact 64, and inner contact 3 6 and contact 60. With this combination, three single filament light bulbs inserted in sockets 46, 48 and 50 may be selectively energized to provide varying levels of illumination by movement of rotor 18 of switch 16.

The operation of the combination of three-way switch socket 10 and the adapter of FIGS. 2 and 3 :will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 which is a schematic diagram of the combination with three single filament light bulbs 46, 48' and 50 inserted in sockets 46, 48 and 50, respectively.

Switch 16 is illustrated in the off position and is operated by manually rotating rotor 18 in a counterclockwise direction by turning a knob attached to the axle of rotor 18. In the OE position no electricity is supplied to any of the light bulbs due to the isolation of strip 24 by insulator 22.

When switch 16 is turned to a first position by rotating rotor 18 a circuit is completed from wire 38 through conductor 20, contact 32, contact 64, light bulb 48', contact 54 and contact 12 to wire 40 to energize light bulb 48 while light bulbs 46 and 50' remain unenergized due to the isolation of contact 36 by insulator 22. Thus when switch 16 is in the first position a dim level of illumination is provided.

Switch 16 is turned to a second position by rotating rotor 18 90 from the first position, and a circuit is completed from wire 38 through conductor 20, contact 36, contact 60, wires 74 and 76, light bulbs 46' and 50', contact 54 and contact 12 to wire 40' to energize light bulbs 46 and 50" while light bulb 48' is deenergized due to the isolation of contact 32 by insulator 22. Thus when switch 16 is in the second position a medium level of illumination is provided.

By rotating rotor 18 90 from the second position, a third position of switch 16 is obtained in which the circuits described with respect to first and second positions aer completed to energize all of the light bulbs. Thus with light bulbs 46, 48 and 50' energized when switch 16 is in the third position, a bright level of illumination is provided.

The light bulbs utilized with the adapter of FIGS. 2 and 3 may be all of equal wattage thereby providing levels of illumination that are multiples of one another, or the wattage of the light bulbs may be varied to provide desired levels of illumination. For instance, a small Wattage light bulb may be inserted in socket 48 to provide a night light while large wattage light bulbs are inserted in sockets 46 and 50 to provide proper reading light.

One of the advantages of the adapter of FIGS. 2 and 3 is that the illumination from the light bulbs is symmetrical due to the symmetrical arrangement of sockets 46 and 50 around socket 48 thereby providing even light to a given area.

A second embodiment of an adapter according to the present invention is illustrated in section in FIG. 5 and differs from the adapter of FIGS. 2 and 3 in that only two sockets for single filament light bulbs are provided. In describing the adapter of FIG. 5 parts that are identical to parts in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 are given identical reference numerals and are not described again, and parts that are similar to parts in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 are given reference numerals with 100 added.

A casing 142 houses a pair of sockets 148 and 150 and is joined with a male member 44 identical to the male member of FIGS. 2 and 3. Sockets 148 and 150 are symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis through the center of male member 44, and sockets 148 and 150 are constructed identically to the sockets of FIGS. 2 and 3. A pair of rigid conductors 170 and 172 are connected at one end with cylindrical wall 54 on opposite sides of male member 44 and at the other end are connected through flanges to a flanged portion of cylindrical walls 66 of sockets 148 and 150, respectively, to provide both electrical connections and support for casing 142. An offset end of conductor 56 is connected with bottom contact 69 of socket 150 through a wire 176, and an olfset end of conductor 58 is connected to bottom contact 69 of socket 148 through a wire 178.

The adapter of FIG. 5 may be utilized with three-way switch socket of FIG. 1 by screwing male member 44 into cylindrical wall 12 thereby electrically connected Walls 12 and 54, intermediate contact 32 and ring contact 64, and inner contact 36 and contact 60. With this combination two single filament light bulbs inserted in sockets 148 and 150 may be selectively energized to provide varying levels of illumination by movement of rotor 18 of switch 16.

The operation of the combination of three-way switch socket 10 and the adapter of FIG. 5 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6 which is a schematic diagram of the combination with two single filament light bulbs 148 and 150 inserted in sockets 148 and 150, respectively.

Switch 16 is illustrated in the 01f position due to the isolation of strip 24 by insulator 22 which prevents either of light bulbs 148 and 150' from being energized.

Switch 16 is turned to the first position by rotating rotor 18 90 counterclockwise which completes a circiut from wire 38 through conductor 20, contact 32, contact 64, light bulb 148', contact 54 and contact 12 to wire 40 to energize light bulb 148'. Thus in the first position of switch 16 only light bulb 148' is energized, and assuming light bulb 148 to have less wattage associated therewith than light bulbs 150' a dim level of illumination is provided.

When switch 16 is turned to the second position by rotating rotor 18 90 from the first position, a circuit is completed from wire 38 through conductor 20, contact 36, contact 60, light bulb 150, contact 54 and contact 12 to wire 40 to energize light bulb 150'. Thus in the second position of switch 16 only light bulb 150 is energized, and assuming light bulb 150 to have more Wattage associated therewith than light bulb 148 a medium level of illumination is provided.

To place switch 16 in its third position, rotor 18 is rotated 90 from the second position, and both the circuits described with respect to the first position and the second position are completed to energize both light bulbs 148' and 150. Thus in the third position of switch 16 both light bulbs 148' and 150' are energized to provide a bright level of illumination.

Clearly the sequence of illumination levels provided by rotating rotor 18 of switch 16 may be altered by utilizing a light bulb 150 with less wattage than the light bulb 148', and the wattage of the light bulbs used with the adapter of FIG. 5 may be varied to provide any desired levels of illumination.

The adapter of FIG. 5 is of simpler construction than the adapter of FIGS. 2 and 3 and may also provide three levels of illumination, as described above; however, the adapter of FIG. 5 does have one disadvantage with respect to the adapter of FIG. 3 in that the light emitted from light bulbs utilized with the adapter of FIG. 5 is not symmetrical since the light bulbs on either side of the adapter in sockets 148 and are individually energized.

The construction of the adapter of the present invention has been illustrated with the use of rigid conductors, wires, and soldered connections. However, it is clear that any conventional manner of constructing the adapter may be utilized such as by using rigid conductors without wires or utilizing screws and/or rivets for connections.

The sequence of operation of the adapters of the present invention may be altered by merely changing connections therein. For instance, if it is desired to have a medium level of illumination when switch 16 is in the first position, wires 74 and 76 need only be connected to conductor 56 and wire 78 connected to conductor 58.

In as much as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter for use with a mutiple switch socket of the type having a socket with an internally threaded wall and a circular base, an inner contact disposed at the center of the base, an intermediate contact disposed at the base and spaced from the inner contact, an outer contact formed by the inner surface of the internally threaded cylindrical wall, and a switching mechanism for selectively connecting the contacts to a source of electricity, said adapter comprising a casing of electrical insulating material;

a male member joined with said casing and having a longitudinal axis, said male member including an externally threaded cylindrical wall forming a first contact and adapted to threadedly engage the internally threaded cylindrical wall of the multiple switch socket to connect said first contact with the outer contact of the multiple switch socket, a second contact disposed at said base of said male member insulated from said first contact and adapted to connect with the intermediate contact of the multiple switch socket, and a third contact disposed at said base of said male member insulated from said first contact and said second contact and adapted to connect with the inner contact of the multiple switch socket;

first, second and third sockets disposed within said casing, each of said first, second and third sockets having a circular base, a bottom contact disposed at the center of said circular base and an internally threaded cylindrical wall forming a side contact and adapted to have a conventional single fialment light bulb threadedly engaged therein, said first socket having a longitudinal axis aligned. with the longitudinal axis of said male member, and. said second and third sockets being'disposed symmetrically about said first socket; and

electrical connecting means disposed within said casing including first means connecting said first contact of said male member with each of said side contacts of said first, second and third sockets, second means connecting said second contact of said male member with said bottom contact of said first socket, and third means connecting said third contact of said male member with said bottom contacts of said second and third sockets such that said second and third sockets are connected in parallel whereby said second and third sockets are simultaneously energized such that symmetrical light is emitted from single filament light bulbs in said first, second and third sockets.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said base of said male member has a center aperture end an off center aperture, said second contact of said male member is a flat disc having an aperture through the center thereof, said third contact of said male member has a curved surface, said second means of said electrical connecting means includes a rigid conductor connected with said fiat disc second contact and extending through said off center aperture in said base, and said third means of said electrical connecting means includes a rigid conductor connected With said curved surface third contact and extending through said center aperture in said base and said aperture in said flat disc.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,198,065 9/1916 Scheprnoes 2407.35

1,936,423 11/1933 Clemence 173335 2,197,226 4/1940 Smith 177-329 3,099,507 7/1936 Tesmer 339-155 FOREIGN PATENTS 903,179 1/1945 France 339159 0 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner L. J. STAAB, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

